Home Made Beauty Products

Face mask
EGG WHITE
Egg white works wonders on your skin. It helps tighten pores and improves skin elasticity. Separate
the egg white from the yolk. Evenly apply the white of the egg on your face, and wash off after 10
minutes or as you feel your skin tighten.
MULTANI MITTI
Why spend hundreds of rupees on a purifying clay mask when the age-old Indian clay
powder, multani mitti, will just cost you Rs 30 or less, and is as natural as it gets. If you have oily
skin, mix multani mitti and rosewater to a paste-like consistency and prepare a mask. If you have
dry skin, use milk or curd.
BANANA+HONEY+LIME
Hydrate your skin with this mask. Mash half a banana, a teaspoon of honey and a few drops of lime.
Apply on face, leave for 10-15 minutes and wash off.
Say goodbye to pimples, naturally!
GARLIC
Take one clove of garlic. Slice it and apply the juice on your pimple. Let it dry and wash it off after
half an hour. This works well in case of an occasional pimple or two.  It is likely to cause mild
irritation.
NEEM LEAVES+TURMERIC
Wash and grind a cup of neem leaves with a few teaspoons of water, and add a pinch of turmeric.
Store this in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Once a week, evenly apply the paste onto your
face and wash it off the next morning. Neem and turmeric both have antibacterial properties, and
also help control oil secretion.
SANDALWOOD PASTE
You can either get yourself a sandalwood stick or powder. Use rosewater to make a paste and apply
a thin coat on your face. Leave it on overnight and rinse with warm water. Sandalwood too is
known to have antibacterial properties. It also regulates oil secretion.
Hair care
Homemade shampoo
EGG+LIME+OLIVE OIL+SHIKAKAI
Make your own shampoo with these ingredients: 1 whole egg, 1 tsp. of olive oil/coconut oil/almond
oil, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 3 teaspoons of soapnut (shikakai) powder, ½ cup green tea.  Put all
the ingredients in a mixie and blend well. Pour the mixture into an air-tight container and store in
refrigerator. This will last you for a month.
GREEN TEA+HONEY+BAKING SODA
Take 1 cup of green tea, add a teaspoon of honey and baking soda. Baking soda helps scrub away all
the dirt and grime in your hair. Honey and green tea will condition it to give you long lustrous locks.
Homemade lip-balm
ALOE VERA+VITAMIN-E OIL
While home-grown aloe vera would be ideal, you could also buy aloe vera gel off the shelf. Take 2
teaspoons of aloe vera gel, and ½ a teaspoon of vitamin-E oil (buy a strip of vitamin-E capsules from
a nearby pharmacy). Mix it well with a spoon and pour into a clean container. Use this to keep your
lips hydrated.
Homemade lip colour
BEETROOT
Well, all you’ll get is shades of red. Finely grind half a beetroot and pour into a container and
refrigerate it. If you want bright red, apply it as it is. If not, pour some onto your palm and dilute it
with a few drops of water. Before you leave, apply an even coat onto your lips using a cotton bud.
Top it up with a coat of Vaseline. This will give your lips added colour naturally.
Homemade lip gloss
HONEY
This one is super simple. After applying a tint of colour, coat your lips with honey. Honey adds
instant shine and gloss to your lips. However, ensure you don’t lick it.
Homemade hair mask
EGG WHITE
Egg white can nourish your hair and give it shine and vitality. Use an egg beater and mix 2 egg
whites. Apply onto your hair and scalp, and leave it on for a couple of hours. Rinse it off in cold
water and shampoo your hair as usual.
CURD+LIME
Mix the juice of half lime in a cup of curd. Apply it evenly onto your hair, using a brush. Leave it in
for an hour, and rinse with a mild shampoo.
Home remedies for shiny, soft hair
LEFTOVER BEER
Have some left over beer? Flat beer makes for an excellent hair conditioner. Leave an open bottle of
beer for a day. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo and follow it up with that beer for a final rinse.
The result: soft, shiny hair!
LEMON
Add the juice of one lime in a mug of water and use it for your last rinse.
Please exercise precaution while using any these home remedies. Avoid using any of these
products if you’re allergic to it. 
Hand and Foot Exfoliant Scrub
Make an amazing sugar scrub exfoliant to get rid of the dead skin and give your hands and feet
some tender loving care.
Method for making the hand and foot exfoliant scrub
You will need 1 cups of sugar, ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil and 1 tbs of lemon juice.
  Mix your sugar and olive oil together and stir. Make sure you mix this well so there is a
gritty paste. Add the lemon juice and continue to stir.
  Olive oil will add moisture and smoothness to counteract the rough exfoliant that is sugar.
The lemon will cleanse while adding a fresh scent.
  When you wash your hands and feet, use the necessary amount of this paste and really
scrub, massaging your fingers and toes.
Homemade Facial Scrubs
Are you suffering from a dull face caused by flaky skin? It’s time to exfoliate your skin to get rid of
those lustreless dead cells.
Our skin is in a continuous process of replacing old cells with new ones. Sometimes, the old, dead
cells do not fall away and tend to clog up the top layer. They need to be removed in order to bring
forth brighter, more youthful layer.
Most skin experts suggest a simple regimen that can be followed for clean, healthy and glowing
skin. Cleansing, exfoliating, toning and moisturising are the four cardinal steps that guarantee you
beautiful skin.
Exfoliation helps in removing those dull and dead cells that conceal your beautiful underlying skin.
So, scrub to a youthful vibrant skin.
Some Natural Homemade Exfoliating Scrubs:
Facial scrubs should be used twice or thrice a week to shed off dead cells. They rejuvenate the skin
and increase blood circulation. And you don’t necessarily have to spend exorbitant sums on buying
them. Here are some highly effective and easy-to-make scrubs that can be prepared at home
without spending much.
1. Honey scrub: Honey is known to be good in imparting radiance. Honey scrub is ideal for
dull skin as it gives you a shine and youthful look. Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 1/2
teaspoon of lemon juice in a bowl. Rinse your face with fresh water and use the mixture as
scrub for 5 minutes. Wash and dry with a clean towel.
2. Olive oil and sea salt scrub: Mix 1 teaspoon of olive oil with ½ teaspoon of sea salt in a
small dish. Scrub your face for 5 minutes and then wash with clean water. The results will be
remarkable. You will see a visible glow and shine on your face. Olive oil will also nourish your
skin.
3. Cucumber facial scrub: Blend a medium sized cucumber with 1 teaspoon of honey until a
fine paste is prepared. Add 1 teaspoon of almond oil and 1 teaspoon of wheat germ. Use it as a
scrub for 5 minutes. Wash with water and pat dry. You will notice a shine and radiance that
this scrub gives your face. Cucumber scrub is also effective in removing dark spots and
freckles that act as beauty stoppers. 
4. Papaya Scrub: Add ½ teaspoon of brown sugar to a piece of papaya and blend smoothly.
Scrub on your face for few minutes. Rinse well. Your skin will glow and you will experience a
fresh feeling.
Basic skincare routine we should all be following
Does your skin have a mind of it’s own? Does it behave well one day and look dull on another? Maybe
you’re not following the basics steps of skin care. Read on to learn what you should be doing.
Who doesn’t want healthy, glowing skin? While some people are blessed with flawless skin, most of
us go to great lengths to try and get that natural glow. But before you go running to try some
expensive new cream or revolutionary procedure, have you considered your basic skincare
routine?
The most basic skincare routine
Ask any skincare expert and they’ll stress on first getting the basics right. So simple as it may sound,
we thought we’d give you a step-by-step breakdown of what your basic skincare routine should be.
Cleansing 
The most basic of the basic skincare routine – cleansing! The biggest mistake most of us make in
this step is that we either under-cleanse or over-cleanse. Experts suggest that for those with normal
skin, cleansing your face twice a day is optimum – once in the morning and once at night, before
going to bed. The latter is especially important, as you want to get rid of the day’s grime and any
make up or lotions that you may have had on.
Remember to find a good soap-free cleanser for your skin and avoid very cold or very hot water to
wash your face.
Exfoliating 
Exfoliation refers to the removal of dead skin cells from the top of the skin. While some skin experts
believe that too much exfoliation is bad for the skin, as it can strip away essential oils, most believe
that exfoliating once a week is a good practice.
Find a scrub that suits your skin and use just a little bit once a week to clear dead cells and hidden
impurities. If you prefer to go natural, you could even try making some home made scrubs and
gently exfoliate for natural, glowing skin.
Check out these simple recipes for home made scrubs. 
Toning 
A toner is a liquid that helps to close the pores on your skin, to avoid attracting dirt and to give your
skin a tighter, firmer look. Many women swear by this step and almost every major cosmetic
brand makes a toner.
However, there are experts who believe that toners should be strictly optional. Try using a toner for
a few days and decide for yourself if you want to add it to your skincare routine or not.
Moisturising
No ambiguity here – moisturising your skin is an absolutely essential step of your skincare regimen.
Depending on your skin type – dry, normal or oily – find a moisturiser that works for you. Typically,
people with very dry skin should go in for a creamy mosturiser and those with oily skin could get a
water-based one. For your day needs, get a moisturiser with an SPF or Sun Protection Factor, as
that can double up as asunscreen as well.
Also remember to moisturise at night, after you’ve thoroughly cleansed your face. Skip the
sunscreen at night though, and just allow your skin to breathe.
Raid Your Kitchen For Effective Beauty Secrets
Forget about making a run to the cosmetics shop. Your very own kitchen is full of great natural beauty
products for the skin.
Your kitchen is full of alternatives to those expensive, chemical based and processed, over-the-
counter cosmetics. And are more importantly a much healthier and skin-friendly formulation. So
why not use them?
Here are some food swaps for your routine skin care products. The best part? You can find them all
in your very own kitchen!
Natural cleansers
 Milk (lactic acid), sugar cane (glycolic acid), and grapes (tartaric acid) make wonderful
facial cleansers.
 Olive oil or sesame oil can be used as make-up removers.
 Strawberries contain natural salicylic acid, which is a great cleanser for acne prone skin.
Natural scrubs/exfoliators
 Rolled (coarsely grounded) oatmeal can be a great facial cleanser with gentle scrubbing
properties for all skin types.
 Dried and coarsely grounded orange/lemon peel, almonds, or brown sugar can also be used
as gentle scrubs.
 You could also make a great scrub out of walnut powder, honey and lemon juice, 1 teaspoon
each.
Natural moisturisers
 For dry skin: mashed ripe banana, avocado, papaya and egg yolks works wonders. Poppy
seeds and peanuts both contain natural oils; their paste can be applied over the face to get a
lasting sheen. Curd is also a well-suited potion for dull skin.
 For oily skin, egg whites are very nourishing. Fenugreek and red gram paste can also be
applied to control excess oil, while keeping your skin moisturised.
Natural astringents/toner
 Apple cider vinegar is an excellent toner.
 Cucumber, pineapple and lemon juices are naturally occurring astringents.
mDhil’s must-try skin-care tips: 
 Before any at-home treatment, give yourself a “pre-mask prep” to prime your face by having
a simple steam to open and cleanse your pores for easy and better absorption of nutrients.
 For a smooth and silky feel of skin, rub some “baking soda” all over the body while in the
shower. You can also do this on your face to remove black heads.
  Vinegar works wonders for smelly armpits and feet. Mix vinegar and water in equal
proportion and use in place of deodorant. If you suffer from athlete’s foot, a “vinegar foot
bath” can even help you completely get rid of your condition.
 Benefits of turmeric or haldi are well known. Apart from its antiseptic properties, it also
helps in reducing under eye dark circles and puffiness, soothing cracked heels, minimizing
pigmentation/wrinkles, and giving skin a radiant glow.
 Olive oil can be used to sooth sunburned skin.
 Dip your nails in lukewarm olive oil for healthier talons.
Some cool and easy skincare tips for all times:
 Use natural skin toner like “rose water” after cleansing the face.
 Boil green tea leaves in water, cool it down and use it as a sunscreen below your makeup.
 To remove tan, apply a mixture of cucumber and lemon juice and wash off after 20 minutes.
Alternatively, mix a pinch of turmeric in some yogurt and apply in a similar way.
 Mint is an excellent refreshing agent for the skin, if you have been out in the sun.
Yoga for beginners: Get that flat stomach!
Envious of all those models and actors on the television with the slender waist and flat stomach? Now
you can get one too! 

That protruding belly is not only unsightly, it’s extremely unhealthy! You’d do anything to get rid of
it but how? Join us, as our yoga expert Dr. K.J. Johnson teaches us simple and
effective yoga positions to get rid of belly fat and get that elusive flat stomach.
Steps for ardha merudandasana (half bear)
Step 1: Start by lying on your back.
Step 2: Now, inhale and raise your right leg to 90 degrees.
Step 3: Fold your right knee and as you exhale, lift your lower back, touching the knee with your
chin
Step 4: Inhale, stretch out your leg and torso.
Step 5: Exhale, lift up and let your knee touch your chin again.
Step 6: Inhale, relax your torso and exhale as you relax your leg.
Step 7: Repeat the steps with your left leg.
Steps for ardha pavanamuktasana (wind removing pose)
Step 1: Start by lying on your back
Step 2: Inhale, raise both legs to 90 degrees.
Step 3: Fold the knees, exhale and bring the legs forward, hugging them and letting your chin touch
the knee. Momentarily hold your breath.
Step 4: Gently start rocking, forward and backward.
Step 5: As you gain momentum, start rolling to either side.
This asana is extremely effective on the abdominal muscle.
Steps for naukasana (boat pose)
Step 1: Start by lying on your back with your feet together and your arms stretched out above your
head.
Step 2: Now, exhale. Lift your arms and legs simultaneously.
Step 3: Tighten the stomach muscles and hold this posture for a few seconds.
Step 4: Now, inhale and relax.
Step 5: Exhale deeply through the mouth and repeat.
Check out our other yoga exercises like the Surya namaskar, which has been known to
have immense benefits and our simple yoga positions for glowing skin!
Top 10 (inexcusable) excuses not to exercise
Don’t exercise? Have a brilliant excuse for it? Well, not for long! We’re here to shoot down every
possible excuse you might have so you can get moving. 
Find a park and start walking!
If there’s one thing we human beings are good at, it’s at making excuses. From why we didn’t do our
homework when we were children, to why we don’t exercise now that we’re adults – our minds just
grow more and more inventive as time goes on.
If you have an excuse not to exercise, we have a counter argument for you. So whatever your reason
is, bring it on!
Top 10 (inexcusable) excuses not to exercise
1. I don’t have the time
That’s simply not true. If you have time to watch your favourite soap on TV, then you have the time
to exercise. It’s simply a matter of prioritising and organising.
Make your health a priority and sit down and organise your week. With a little shuffling and
juggling, you’ll find that it’s easy enough to take 30 minutes out everyday to exercise.
Read about the ways you can add more activity to your daily routine.
2. I have kids. I really don’t have time to exercise
We understand that being a parent is a full-time job. It’s also a job that requires you to be physically
and mentally healthy, which is why exercise becomes all the more important. The best way to
exercise with kids is to include them in your workout. Take them to the park with you or do a fun
dance with them at home.
If the above doesn’t work, take time to work out while they’re school or wake up early to exercise. If
you make it a priority, you’ll be able to make time for it.
3. I’m not a morning person
That’s OK, you can exercise any time of the day provided you do it in a safe manner. Keep a gap
between your meal and your workout and don’t exercise too close to your night sleep time. Other
than that, be it morning or evening, just put on the right gear and go forth and exercise.
4. I’m thin. I don’t need exercise
A few years ago, scientists came out with a concept called TOFI (Thin Outside, Fat Inside). This is a
phenomenon that affects a lot of slim people who don’t exercise. So while they have no extra weight
on the outside, scans show a lot of fat accumulated around their organs – which can also be
dangerous.
Besides, exercise has many benefits besides weight loss. It helps to ward off diseases like cancer,
diabetes, hypertension; it is a great mental stimulant; it helps keep you toned and fit and improves
your sex life as well. Remember, the aim should be fitness, not just slimness.
5. I don’t have a good gym close by/I can’t afford a gym/I’m no good at sports
If you can walk, you can exercise. You don’t need to be a member of a fancy gym or be an expert
basketball player or be able to do headstands to exercise. The easiest exercise is walking. It also
happens to be one of the most effective workouts out there, so quit your excuses and get walking!
The top 10 benefits of walking – read about them right here!
6. I HATE exercising
If you did a survey, you’d probably find that a lot of people don’t necessarily love to exercise. After
all, most of us would rather stay in bed that extra hour in the morning than be sweating it out in the
park.
However, exercise is important. And one way to make it more enjoyable is by doing it with a friend
or joining a group class. Also, exercise needn’t just be limited to running on a treadmill or lifting
weights. Try something gentler like Pilates or yoga and you’ll eventually find something you
actually enjoy.
7. It has no effect on me
Somebody once said that diet and exercise are like the two wings of a plane. If one is not
functioning, the plane can’t take off.
In other words, if you’re trying to lose weight you have to exercise and eat healthy. You can’t come
back from your workout and gorge on two samosas and a cold coffee with ice cream and expect to
lose weight. With a little discipline, your workout will soon start showing results.
8. My back hurts and other medical issues
Back pain is often a result of a weak core. And strengthening your core is a great way of alleviating
the pain.
If you have specific medical issues, it needn’t mean the end of exercise for you. Speak to a doctor or
qualified trainer and figure out an exercise routine that’s tailored specially around your concerns.
You might find that the exercise actually helps reduce all those aches and pains.
9. It’s so boring
Walking on the treadmill and never getting anywhere may be boring. But have you tried playing a
sport? Or checked out a dance-based exercise routine? The best way to kill the boredom is to work
out with a buddy. Ask your partner or best friend to join you and make exercise fun!
10. I’ve never exercised before
That’s no excuse at all. It’s never too late to exercise. Start today and reap the health benefits in the
years to come.
Fenugreek Seeds Magic
Skin and hair: A paste made of ground fenugreek and water is a common home remedy to treat
pimples, burns and even eczema. Mixing fenugreek paste in coconut oil or applying as it is makes
for an excellent conditioner for your hair and scalp.
Beauty splash – Turmeric, for glowing skin!
It added color to your food, gave it that extra zing, and has been a lifesaver when you accidently cut
your finger. Now, it’s time to switch to turmeric from your fairness creams and moisturizers.
Turmeric – curcuma longa has spiced up your curries and sometimes made way into your glass of
milk when you caught a cold. This wonderful antiseptic spice is a favorite among grandmas when it
comes to whipping up homemade beauty treatments. Read on to find out why.
Battling pigmentation
Turmeric has an old reputation of giving the skin a natural glow. And that’s exactly why traditional
Indian weddings follow the custom of the ‘haldi’ ceremony before the wedding day, so that the
bride and the groom really glow on the D day. A teaspoon of turmeric powder in your face pack, or
with a couple of tablespoons of gram flour and lemon juice helps lighten your pigmentation
wonderfully.
For the wow glow
Turmeric has been used in beauty treatments since ancient times. Being an excellent antiseptic, you
can freely use it even if you discover a few breakouts on your skin. And believe it or not turmeric
doesn’t stain your skin. For a healthy glow, add a pinch of turmeric to the pulp of tomato (if you
have oily skin) or a tablespoon of curd (if you have dry skin). Leave it on your face like a mask for
15 minutes and rinse.
Anti-ageing spice
Turmeric is packed with anti-ageing properties. It reduces the appearance of fine lines and
wrinkles, and makes the skin soft and supple. This works best when a pinch of turmeric is mixed
with cucumber pulp and applied to the skin. Do this regularly and you’re sure to get compliments.
De-tan
If fair skin is all you covet, here’s turmeric to your rescue. Lemon or tomato juice coupled with
turmeric used twice a week reduces the tan and lightens the skin visibly, minus the cakey fairness
of the fairness creams.
Acne treatment
If those zits and boils are all you can think about, try treating it the turmeric way. You can’t go
wrong with this mixture of coconut oil, turmeric and a nice helping of sandalwood powder (if you
want it to be a mask) or sea salt (if you want it to be a scrub). Tired of using the concealer every
time to hide the spots left behind? Dab turmeric and lemon juice mixture directly on the spots and
leave it for five minutes.
So opt for turmeric – the inexpensive and natural alternative care for your skin instead of the
expensive chemical-filled store-bought treatments!
Beauty splash – Multani mitti
Get glowing with Multani mitti-the 10 minute miracle
The mud basics: What is multani mitti?
Grandma was right! Multani mitti-what we know today as Fuller’s earth, is truly an excellent skin
essential. Originally used as an absorbent or filter in the fabric industry, Fuller’s earth is now an
established component of numerous skin products. It is also used in the military and civil services
as a decontaminant for clothing soldiers which may have been affected by chemical agents.
Uses of multani mitti
Skinsational
Multani mitti’s highly absorbent qualities make it a superb face mask and an excellent coolant for
aggravated and irritated skin. People suffering from outburst of acne have a reason to rejoice. The
hydrated aluminum silicate in the Fuller’s earth saps the skin of the excess oil, traps the dirt and
dead skin cells accumulated over time, leaving you with a fresh, radiant and glowing skin.
The wonder works
Multani mitti works like magic, especially for acne prone skin. Its cooling action soothes the skin,
relieves the inflammation caused due to aggravated and sore acne, and reduces the possible
eruption of more acne.
The famous ‘face mask’
The multani mitti and rose water mask is famous around the globe, and for a good reason. This duo
works great by balancing the pH of your skin, naturally cooling it, and reducing oiliness, making you
look fresh and radiant. For people with dry skin, mix together a tsp of crushed almonds and a bit of
milk with the Multani mitti for soft and supple skin all day long.
Freedom from sweat
Mixed with your talcum powder, multani mitti makes for an excellent sweat absorbent for those
summer months when your feet gets all sweaty in your shoes. Mix equal parts of both Multani mitti
and your talc and rub it on your feet before leaving for work.
For a shiny mane
Is your hair lacking shine? It’s time to put the good old multani mitti to use. Just mix together a few
spoonfuls of multani mitti with the juice of half a lemon and a little bit of water so it forms a nice,
thick paste. Apply it on your scalp just as you would a shampoo and rinse off.
Be spot free
Tired of hiding your spots with a concealer? Try this excellent face pack and watch your spots
lighten away. In a small mixing bowl, add two spoonfuls of multani mitti, the juice of 1 tomato and a
little bit of sandalwood powder. For an extra glow, add a pinch of turmeric powder. Mix together till
it forms smooth paste and applying onto skin. Leave it for 10 minutes before rinsing and watch
your face glow like a star!
Natural Hair Conditioners
Ditch those expensive, chemical-based over-the-counter hair conditioners and whip up your very own
customised hair moisturiser to make your locks lustrous – naturally!
Hair conditioners help smoothen unruly hair and make them look neat and silky. They are usually
applied on the lower half of the hairstrands.
Although the market is flooded with options, we know they are loaded with chemicals. When you
can achieve the same effect by using natural ingredients available in your home, why buy those
expensive products?
Here are some do-it-yourself hair conditioning treatments:
Homemade hair mask:
1. Egg mask: Courtesy, its high protein content, egg masks work best for damaged and dry hair.
 Mix one whole egg with one tablespoon of water or baby oil and work through your hair.
 Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes.
 Rinse thoroughly and use a mild shampoo afterwards to get rid of the eggy smell.
2. Avocado mask: Say hello to super silky hair with this one…
 Put a pitted avocado, one tablespoon honey and two tablespoons baby or olive oil in a
blender. Make a smoothy.
 Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, then rinse and shampoo.
3. Banana mask: Go bananas to get that ultra-soft and mushy hair. If you find avocado a little too
exotic and hard to procure, banana is the one for you.
 Mix a mashed banana with half-teaspoon of almond oil and some milk.
 Apply on your hair and wash thoroughly after 15 minutes and there you are.
4. Mayonnaise mask: Your favourite mayo is a pure delight not only in your sandwiches but for
your hair too.
 Apply a cup of mayonnaise on your damp hair and wrap your head with a semi-hot towel.
  Leave it for 20 minutes and shampoo it as usual. You can even swap mayo with yogurt to
get a similar effect.
Home-made hair rinsers:
Create a great rinse to achieve sheen and lustre in your hair.
1. Mix together a teaspoon each of castor oil, glycerine, and malt vinegar. The castor oil pumps up
your hair’s body, the vinegar balances the pH, and glycerine adds moisture. Apply the mixture to
your hair before you shampoo and leave in for at least 20 minutes.
2. Brew some tea leaves in a cup of water. Strain and cool. Rinse your hair directly with this
concoction after shampooing.
3. Beers not only add amazing shine to all hair type but they add ample moisture too. Use a flat beer
(without carbonation or bubbles). For intense shine and body, use the beer after shampooing and
rinse properly to save yourself from becoming a mobile beer bar.
Oiling your hair:
Olive oil: The age-old hot oil massage cannot be substituted by anything. Olive oil is considered the
best for doing so. Massage the scalp and slather the locks with lukewarm oil. Leave it overnight and
let the oil seep into the roots for a deep conditioning effect.
Homemade Multigrain Atta Recipe - Ingredients
Whole Wheat(Punjab Gothumai) - 2 kg
Oats - 100 gms
Maize - 100 gms
Ragi - 50 gms
Chana Dal - 100 gms
Soya Bean - 50 gms
 If you want cup measures you can have a ratio of 2.5 cups(wheat) : 1 cup(multigrains)
 We usually grind punjab whole wheat and samba wheat together in the ratio 2:1 for normal
chapathi flour.
Method:
1.Wash all the grains well and let it dry in sunshade for at least for a day till it is completely dry.
Then give it for grinding, I gave it to the mill.
2.Allow it to cool for some time. Sieve it twice and discard the coarse mixture that is retained. After
sieving store in airtight container.
Idli, Dosa Recipe - Ingredients
 Idli rice - 3 cups (750 gms)
 Whole urad dal / Ulundhu(no skin variety) - 1/2 cup (125 gms)
 Fenugreek seeds/Vendhayam - 1/2 tsp
 Water - as needed
 Salt - to taste
Method:
1.Measure each ingredient as per the above measurement and keep seperately. Soak rice, urad dal
with fenugreek seeds in water each seperately for atleast 2 to 3 hours.
2.Then drain water from urad dhal+fenugreek seeds and add it to the grinder. While adding urad
dhal take care the grinder doesnt get stuck. Sprinkle water then and there and grind it for 40mins
in total. Its always better to stand near atleast during the final stage of till the proper consistency is
reached. Keep sprinkling water in between at regular intervals. The batter should be light and nice
fluffy.
3.Collect the urad dhal batter in a container(big enough to hold the fermented batter). Now drain
water from rice and add it to the grinder, sprinkle little water and start grinding.Grind it for
 30mins on the whole, keep adding water in between. Grind it smoothly with a slight coarse
texture. The rice batter should be slightly thicker than urad dhal batter.
4.Now take the rice batter and urad dhal batter, add salt and mix well. Keep aside in a warm place
to ferment well for atleast 10 - 12 hours. Can you see the fermented batter with a porous look?  If
you see the batter would have raised well and now your idli dosa batter is ready to use.
5.Take a laddle full and add it to the idly pan and steam it for 10-12mins. Sprinkle little water and
carefully slide around the edges to take the idlis.
Hot soft idlis ready to be served.
Become a Super Smart Home-maker
 Adhere to the following rules of home-making and become a smart home-maker.....

Work Hard, Don’t Procastinate

Be a hard worker.  So often our inclination is to be lazy. Take the path of least resistance. Do your
work today, don’t put it off until tomorrow. 

Look for the best deal

Whatever you shop, look for the best deal.  It can be another lazy factor to walk into the closest
store and grab the item off the shelf.  It takes time to keep price books, to plan menus, to save
money and seek the best possible deal when purchasing items for your home.  This way you can
save a lot.

Rise up early

Be an early riser and make the best out of your day. 

Be the Best Cook

Cook on time. In this fast paced world, a home cooked meal is hard to find.  Be the best cook,
prepare delicious and nutritious food and don't figure out ways to stay out of the kitchen.  

Keep your home clean

Keep your home clean. Your house should be ready to welcome a guest anytime.. 

Dont burn the midnight oil; dont stay awake until late night.

Its good to work long hours.. However, its a must to go to bed on time.. Its the best way to be
productive the next day.

Be aware of what is coming up and plan accordingly

Planning is such an important key to managing a home.  You have to look ahead, for the day, the
week, the month, the year, etc..  You need to know what is coming up and you need to plan and be
prepared for it.  

When you have a long day away from home, driving home is not the time to be thinking about
dinner.  Yesterday or last week was.  .  Of course things can happen in life and plans don’t always
work as we wanted them to, but that is not a reason to be without a plan. 

Keep your home and family first

Say no to activities that may stop you from doing your work. It is so easy to get caught up in other
things in life and let the home take a backseat. Dont skip your regular house-hold tasks unless and
until something critical happens.

Keep fit

Staying at home, doing nothing will ofcourse make you put on loads of weight and affect your health
indeed.. Keeping fit is vital for a home-maker...Make it a point to go for a walk atleast 5 days a week,
atleast for 30 minutes.. If you cannot afford to walk for 30 minutes, you can choose to do other
cardio activities like climbing stairs 10 times a day or swimming, whichever you are comfortable
with.. Apart from walking/swimming, do some exercises everyday for atleast 30 minutes, 4 days a
week.. You may get bored  while working out.. So play your favourite music and start working out
so that you dont feel bored working out.. 

Stay updated

You should always stay updated on current affairs, know the happenings of the outside world...
Make it a point to read or watch news.. You can visit sites
like www.cnn.com, www.ndtv.com,www.hinduonnet.com where you can read the news for free.
You can also visit the sitehttp://www.informationcorner.com/Tamil.asp which is a wonderful site
to browse through.

Keep Learning

Make use of your time wisely. You can choose to learn whatever you want to learn for free
fromhttp://www.wannalearn.com/ 

You can learn foreign languages free of cost at www.livemocha.com, which is an interactive site to
learn languages easily..

If you love to learn technical stuff, you can choose to learn a technical stuff
fromhttp://www.informationcorner.com/Technology.asp and get certified from sites
likewww.brainbench.com or www.expertrating.com  Rather, you can also try building your own
website or blog and keep posting some useful stuff and share it with your friends...There are lots of
websites that allow to create your own blog or website for free.. You can even try creating one
at www.weebly.com

Make use of the library effectively. Develop a habit of reading books, maybe fiction, thrillers or
motivational, whichever interests you. Register at www.shelfari.com to learn more about books.

Keep up your vocabulary. Learn new words and improvise your vocabulary for free
from http://www.world-english.org/improve_vocabulary_advanced.htm, which is a mindblowing
site to learn new words.http://www.englishdaily626.com/idioms.php, is an amazing site to learn
idioms..

Dress up Fantabulously 

Ofcourse, a home-maker should look pleasant and good.. It doesn't mean that you got to look
unclean and wear old clothes if you are staying at home...Dress up fantabulously... Find out whatz
trendy and dress up accordingly.. And of course you got to pamper yourself for all the hard work
you do...Get yourself a facial done or visit a spa and rejuvenate yourself. <-Click here to know about
making facial masks at home.

Stay in touch with your friends and folks

Last but not least, it is always important to communicate..Stay in touch with your friends and
family.. Ofcourse take a trip to your favourite destinations with your friends and family.. This keeps
your energy levels boosted.. But make sure to return back to your routine work.

It is always a great feeling to be appreciated...If you do your jobs with perfection and manage your
home smartly, you will definitely get noticed and appreciated for all the hard work you do... 

Organise the House Hold Chores

One of the best methods to manage the house-hold chores is to break the house-hold chores and
assign a day to perform the chores.

House-hold chores may include vacuming the house, washing the clothes (dresses, bed spreads,
dining cloth, pillow covers, couch cover), cleaning up the kitchen including loading and unloading
dishwasher, cooking, cleaning the clutter (junk items in the house), planning the dresses for the
week and ironing them, grocery shopping and menu planning. 

Monday - Washing all the clothes required for a week and ironing them. Plan what you are going to
wear for the oncoming week (7 days). Iron the dresses whichever requires ironing and hang it in
your wardrobe.

Tuesday - Cleaning the house, washing bedspreads, pillow covers, dining cover, vacum the house,
cleaning the clutter.

Wednesday - This day is just to pamper yourself. Go for a home made facial or a makeover or a
massage whichever lifts your spirits. 

Thursday - Ofcourse, you will go crazy if you do all house-hold work without spending timwith your
friends and folks.. Just hang out with your friends, go shopping, reply to your mails, call whomever
you e with your friends and folks.. Just hang out with your friends, go shopping, reply to your mails,
call whomever you have missed talking to for a long time.. Plan this day for your grocery shopping
as the shops maybe crowded in the weekends.

Friday- Friday is ofcourse auspicious. Make sure to thank the god by offering a small pooja or going
to a temple. Learn a language or read a book that helps you to gain knowledge. 

Saturday and Sunday - Watch a movie or hang out to a favourite restaurant with your loved ones..
Try out that favourite dish of your loved ones and cheer them up...

Control the clutter

Believe it or not, clutter can destroy your life!  It can make an otherwise reasonably clean home feel
like a disaster.  It can make you feel overwhelmed and depressed.  Developing good clutter control
habits will help to keep you from feeling depressed.  

Keep the following tips in mind when making new daily habits.  If you keep an homemaking journal
then write these tips down and read them daily until this is a way of life for you.   

First and foremost thing, dont crowd your house with  attractive materialistic house-hold things
sold out in the market.. Before buying any house-hold furniture, table, chairs, or anything for that
matter, think twice whether its really necessary or question yourself whether you can survive
without it. Keep your house with less amount of things.. This way your house will look neat and
spacious.

1. Don’t let piles build up. Throw away things, unwanted bills, papers, magazines when you are
done with them.  

2. Deal with the things as they come into the house.  Toss the junk mail, file the bills, set the
personal mail on your desk and read and respond as soon as possible.  

3. Set times each day to walk around the house and put things into their correct place.  Always have
a place for  all the items in your house..  So, make a spot for all items that you have.  If the items are
keepers then make sure you have a shelf or box to deal with each item.  There will be no question as
to where something goes if it every item has a predefined place.    

4. Throw away anything that you really do not need and is not worth making a place for. Remember
you can’t keep every piece of art work, or every issue of your favorite magazine, or every recipe that
you print out.  If it has value to you then make a file  to keep the work and  keep only the important
ones. Buy few boxes to keep the magazines and the recipe printouts so that they dont lie scattered
across the home.  Figure out the things you really want and give away the rest.  

Mange your time

Time management is an important factor in home-making. If you manage your time efficiently, then
you would have more time left over.. As there is no chance to increase the number of hours in a day,
it is vital to evaluate the time available and identify how well it can be used.

In order to manage time efficiently, you need to figure out whether you are making use of your time
wisely.

Within the 24 hours in a day, there are many activities to be done like sleeping, eating, taking
shower, relaxing, spending time with family etc. The time that is left over after doing these activities
is the time available to carry out the house-hold work. These hours should be viewed as
precious hours and made use of properly.  

Before you could start doing your tasks, identify the important tasks of the day. Make a list of these
tasks and keep these as important priorities in the forefront of your day.  

Be more efficient with your time. Take time to examine how you do things and your methods and
see if they can be altered to be time friendly. Ask to yourself whether you can do more than one
thing at one time? Can you combine your shopping trips and have only one or two days out of the
house a week? 

Combine tasks and save time. Wipe down your bathroom sink and counters while you are brushing
your teeth in the morning...

Don’t forget to turn on some music while you work!  It does boost your energy levels....

Be aware of things that rob your time.  Over commitment to outside responsibilities is a strict No! 
Put a note above the phone or carry it with you: " A Smart and efficient Homemaker"   It’s a simple
reminder of your priorities. Keep your family and home first.  

The telephone is another time robber. Turning your phone to voice mail. This may help you avoid
unwanted calls. Dont hang on the phone for too long..

Dont spend time on tv shows, internet chatting and reading junk mails.. These are the greatest time
stealers.. Plan a time for watching useful tv shows. Make sure you make the best use of internet in
the available time.. Assign a time in a day to reply emails, chat with your friends and do that only
when you have ample time after you accomplish the regular tasks of the day..

Daily Activity Scheduling is one of the best time management tool.  A pre-determined
schedule helps to track your day. If you want to learn to manage your time effectively
then scheduling is an important key to accomplish your daily tasks.There is a difference between a
long term schedule and a daily schedule.  A daily schedule is to plan your activity for the oncoming
day.  If you dont want to stick to a long term schedule then you can work by daily scheduling. Plan
your routine activities on a day to day basis. Don’t compare how someone else manages their day. 
Work to find what will accommodate your life. Be flexible when the need arises but always work to
be steady in what you have to accomplish each day. Visit the daily activity scheduling page to learn
more about scheduling.  Click here to learn more about Daily Activity Scheduling

One last thought on managing your time is to be reasonable about figuring out the number of tasks
you can accoomplish a day.  Keep your priorities in place. Don’t take on more tasks than you can
handle. Don’t expect more from yourself. Work on those priorities that have the greatest
importance. Obviously time management is a proactive work! The day will go by no matter what.
Keep your priorities straight and make changes to your routine to help you use your time as wisely
as possible. 

Organise your laundry

Laundry plays a vital role in home management... If you dont do your laundry work on time, then
your house will be messy with a pile of dirty clothes lying around... And your house will look
devastated......

Organising the clothes is as important as washing your clothes..If you dont organise your washed
clothes properly, at one point of time you will find it difficult distinguishing between the washed
clothes and unwashed clothes..And you will get baffled as to which one has to be washed...

Tips for laundry

Either you wash your clothes day to day or once in a week, make sure you dont skip this task.....

Always make it a point to wash the bed spreads, pillow covers, pillows, sofa covers atleast once in a
week.. Most often, bacteria and microorganisms reside in these clothes and will make you fall sick..

If you dont find time to fold the washed clothes, dont worry.. Here is an idea... Assign two separate
bags/baskets, one to put the washed clothes and the other to put your unwashed/dirty clothes...
Also have a separate transparent covered zipped bag to keep  only your towels and inner wears, so
that it will be easier while you are heading to a a shower instead of scanning the entire laundry
basket for picking up a towel.This way you won't get confused between washed and unwashed
clothes...

Choose the dresses you are going to wear for a week and keep it in your wardrobe in an orderly
way.. So you would know what you are going to wear for that day.. This way you can save time,
rather than searching for the clothes in a busy morning.. This way you can manage your laundry
work efficiently..

Daily Activity Scheduling is a very interesting part in home management. Over a period of time, I
have gone with no schedule. Sometimes, I had a daily record note, calendars, lists and all sorts of
things to figure out what exactly works for me. I think, as time goes by so many things change in life
that what may work great one week may not work the next week. Ultimately, the main thing is
picking a scheduling system that allows you to accomplish the required tasks for a day. 

I am not a real schedule person. I will have to admit that I have not always stuck to a rigid schedule.
I have missed to follow my schedule at times.. But not always..On the same hand, if I don’t have
something to follow I  end up having endless tasks I need to take care of the next day. 

One of the things that works for me is the things to do list. As soon as I wakeup, I jot down the
things to do for the day. Things to do, may include, washing, cleaning, cooking, reading, learning,
loading/unloading the dishwasher or whatever it maybe.... End of the day, I assess whether I have
done the tasks for the day.. This way it works for me.. I do include the timings in my to do list.. For
example - 9 am - breakfast, 10 am to 11 am - cooking, 12 - 1 - lunch, 2-3 - working on website, 3-4 -
reading book, 5-6 - walking..8 pm - dinner, 9 pm - cleaning the kitchen, dining table and loading the
vessels in dish washer.  You can have your own schedules and stick to it.. At times, I work on extra
chores that go beyond maintenance.  

Now if you have a busy day or parts of the day did not go as planned then you got to think about
the things to do for the next day instead of brooding about the day you had missed to stick to the
schedule...Also, make sure to catch up on what did not get accomplished that day. 

This method of scheduling works for me...... Trust, it would work with you too..
A home-maker is not jobless... There are  plenty of jobs for a home-maker to do in 24 hours.. 

List down your responsiblities as a home-maker and make sure to fill this Responsiblity Chart on a
daily basis. At the end of every week, scan through the chart and reward yourself if you have done
all the jobs perfectly..This way you will be motivated to do your jobs with perfection.

Kitchen
Kitchen is the heart of the home as food plays an important role in our lives.  It is a challenge
to prepare the most delicious and nutritious food in a frugal way possible. I look at the time spent in
my kitchen as a challenge to be embraced. 

There is something so wonderful about the aroma of the food... 

Food is a wonderful way of bonding in a relationship.. It is wonderful way to help and reach out to
others..  

Handling this challenging task requires proper planning and hardwork. 

These are some of the tools that can be used to accomplish these goals: 

First and foremost thing you got to do is to assign a notebook for kitchen. You can have this
notebook titled as "Kitchen Tracker" and have this placed in your kitchen.

1. Plan the cooking menu – It is very important to plan out the menu in advance. Sometimes this is
a just a few days and sometimes it can be weeks in advance. But,try to figure out what you are going
to make for the next day. Also, think whether you got to do anything the night before. Do you have
to soak dal or grind something or boil the dal, whatever it maybe.. Also learn to make recipes that
are easier to prepare and rotate these over a several week period. If you are not big on variety you
can just have the same thing each Monday night, Tuesday night and so on, perhaps leaving Saturday
night to go out to an restaurant..…. No matter what method works for you, planning is a must! Once
you are done with the planning, write down the plan in your kitchen notebook. When you have your
recipes or meals planned out then you can make your grocery list and shop once a week or every
other week.  <- Click here to  Plan the cooking menu.

2. Take the count of stocks available in your kitchen – Always keep a track of the stocks
available in your kitchen. Once you develop a routine of cooking a definite menu, you will get to
know the quantity of usage of certain items.... Note down the items that you frequently use in
the kitchen notebook and buy it in bulk when there is a sale or discount..Try to keep a huge stock of
unperishable items in your pantry so that you need not walk down to the grocery shop frequently.
For example, you can stock wheat flour, onions, potatoes, dal's, sugar, salt, rice, etc.

3. Track the usage – This takes time in the beginning but saves you tons of time later on. In your
kitchen note book, have a separate section titled "Usage". As and when you start using an
unperishable item, mark the date when you started using it.. Soon after the item is over, you can
note down the date when it was over. This way you will get to know how long you are using an item
and how long does it last. This is applicable only for certain unperishable items like Rice, Wheat
flour, sugar, salt, milk, yoghurt, etc. This will also help you to derive the quantity you got to buy..

4. Maintain a Things to buy list- Have a dedicated section titled "things to buy" in your kitchen
notebook. As and when you run short of an item in the kitchen, note it down in this section even
before you forget. Browse through this section before you head to the grocery store. This way you
wont forget to buy any items.

5.  Track your spendings – In your kitchen notebook, have a separate section for cost tracking.
Whenever you are back from the grocery store, dont throw away the grocery bill. Paste/Stick this
grocery bill in your kitchen notebook and mark the date of shopping and total cost against it. This
way you get to know what you are spending on food items. This way you can compare the cost of
food items sold in a variety of stores and buy it at the store where you get it at the best possible
rate.  This way you can shop wisely.

6. Note down the commonly purchased items for the kitchen - Jot down the items you generally
buy for the kitchen. These items may include dishwasher detergent, vessel cleansers, appliances,
filters, kitchen cleaning towels, vessels, kitchen tissues, broomstick, etc. Before heading to the
grocery store, run through this list quickly and check whether you got to buy any item in this list.

7.Use the Refridgerator efficiently - Sometimes you may overcook and the food may be left over..
In that case, save the left over food in the refrigerator and use it.. Or you may have a stressful day or
a busy schedule on a weekend, then cook in bulk and keep it in refrigerator so that you need not
rely on outside food.. Make it a point to keep your refrigerator clean.. You should always make sure
that you dont leave any rotten or unused stuff in the refridgerator for days together.. If you are not
using a stuff, then throw it right away.. Dont let it sit in your fridge...

Always keep these points in mind to manage kitchen efficiently:

Be it a breakfast, lunch or dinner, prepare food on time. Don't let your family members starve. If you
are not able to rise up early in the morning, do the cooking the previous evening itself and keep it
refrigerated. This way you can keep up with the time.

Keep your kitchen clean.. It is so much more motivating to work in a clean kitchen rather than a
cluttered one. Clean up as you work. Fill your kitchen sink with warm  water while you work. Put
the used utensils in there as you work. Then you can easily load it into the dishwasher when you
are done. This means not only your kitchen, it also includes the vessels used for cooking, the gas
stove and all appliances used for cooking. Clean your kitchen as and when you finish cooking. You
may feel tired after cooking, but dont give up.

Dont stick on to the same recipe everyday.. You will get bored cooking and eating the same stuff..
Try different varieties of dishes.. Make a note of your family's favourite recipe and surprise them
with it.. <-Click here to learn new recipes

Make sure to clean your dining table soon after serving the food.. Dont let any other things lie on
your dining table.. Dining table should be clean before and after serving.. Throw all the unused ,
perished stuff then and there.. Dont accumulate it in your kitchen if you are not using it..

So go ahead and start managing your kitchen smartly by implementing the ideas, whichever works
the best for you..

Organise your kitchen

An organised kitchen saves your time.. There is a constant use of supplies, dishes and vessels in the
kitchen.. Keeping it clean and well organised is a must..

First segregate the kitchen into zones like supplies zone, cooking zone, cutting zone

Supplies zone is the area where you place the commonly used spices, powders (sambar powder,
rasam powder and all masala powders).. Make sure that you place all the frequently used powders
in transparent containers with a spoon inside and have it labelled with the name. This may be
useful to locate items easily. Keep these frequently used spices in the closet next to your gas stove.

Cooking zone is the area where you place your vessels, spatulas, spoons, ladles, etc... Place this also
at an easy reach so that you can locate these easily while cooking.. Also, make sure to seggregate the
vessels, spatulas, spoons and laddles.. Keep the vessels in a separate closet. Keep the spatulas,
spoons, laddles in another closet. Place the plates, bowls, cups and silverware in a closet nearer to
your dishwasher/kitchen sink.. This way you need not walk across the kitchen to put these away
after unloading them from the dish washer.

Then there is the cutting zone. Put all the knives and   cutting board sets in the counter next to your
refrigerator. You can get the chop board and knife as and when you pick out some vegetable from a
refrigerator. This way you can save time.

There are a few other things to consider when organizing your kitchen.

Small appliances are another consideration. Keep the appliances that you use most regularly on the
counter.. Keep it near the plug point.. For example, you can keep the blender and rice cooker
closeby to a plug point so that you can easily plug it in while using. Also make sure you place the
appliances close to the sink so that you can wash it soon after using. Make sure to keep the rice,
measuring cup next to the rice cooker.. Also, place the less frequently used appliances in a cupboard
rather than leaving it outside. 

Also place the dish washer detergent and cleaning agents in a closet next to the dishwasher.

Reorganise the kitchen and make it a place easy to work in!

Plan the cooking menu
One of the important areas of a well managed home is to plan what you are going to cook. It is really
unlikely to be unaware of what you are going to cook until the last minute. By making a menu plan,
you can make best use of the food, time and money. Knowing what you are going to cook each day
will save you a lot of time. By having a menu plan, you will always know what you have and make
the best use of it. This way you avoid accumulating unwanted stuff in you refrigerator/freezer.   

By planning your menu, you can have very specific grocery shopping lists and this helps you to
avoid immense buying. This will help you to remember what you have in your kitchen and plan
accordingly. Also, you will get to know what type of foods you consume on a regular basis and what
kinds of foods you use frequently. This way you can save money by buying frequently used items in
a bulk during a sale.  It also reduces time so that you need not frequently visit the grocery store.

Of course, there will be times where you may fail to prepare a menu plan and wont know what to
eat the next day.. So always stock your kitchen with ready to eat stuff so that you can munch on that
even if you dont feel like cooking. But always get back to menu planning because this makes life
flow so much better.  

There are lots of menu planning ideas and I wish to share some that I have used and what works
well for me. Your way of eating may be different from mine.. However, these ideas of mine will help
you to build your own menu plan.. Here is my idea on menu plan..

Plan a cooking menu for a week.. This you can do it every thursday before you go to the grocery
store.

For example

Monday - Potato fry + Roti

Tuesday - Peas Pulav + Onion Raita
Wednesday - Brinjal Sambar+ Beans Curry
Thursday - Tomato Rasam + Cabbage Curry
Friday - Spicy Capsicum
Saturday - Onion Sambar + Pepper Rasam + Mixed Vegetable curry (carrot+beans+peas+potato)
Sunday - Roti + Bhindi Fry

This way you will get to know what you are going to cook for a week and buy groceries accordingly..
At times, you may have some vegetables/ingredients left over.. So, when you can create a new menu
for the next week, you got to plan dishes making use of the left over vegetables effectively..So every
week you can plan a menu.. For me, weekly menu works.. If this doesn’t work for you, you can also
try planning a menu on a day to day basis... Note down what you are going to cook the next day by
checking out the vegetables and ingredients you have in your kitchen. 

There will be times when you are not able to stick to the menu as planned because of time
constraint or some other reason.. Don’t worry even if you are not able to stick to your menu plan for
a day or two.. Reschedule your menu plan according to your convenience.

Manage your Grocery Shopping

Different people shop groceries at different times.. Some may shop everyday, some may shop
weekly once.. It varies according to the person.. However, proper planning and getting the items at
a best deal is a challenging task..

Check out the "Kitchen, the heart of home page" before you read through this section. 

                 <- Click here to go back to Kitchen, the heart of home page 

Before heading to the grocery store, check for the following.

Run through your kitchen to make sure whether you have any left over vegetables/items you had
bought the previous week or day.. This way you can avoid buying the same stuff again. Carry the
things to buy list while you are heading to grocery shopping. 

Look out for the following in the Kitchen book:

Check the Usage of Stock section in your kitchen notebook.

Check the Master Grocery section in your kitchen notebook.

Analyse the previous grocery bills in your kitchen notebook and figure out where you get the items
for the best rate and head to that grocery store.

Also, check out magazines for any discount or sale on grocery items. If there is a sale running out in
a store, head to that grocery store instead of going to your usual store.

Carry the things to buy list with you and make shopping a easier process.

Always try to get the non perishable items and frequently used items in bulk quantities so that you
save money in doing so and  avoid stepping to the grocery store frequently. 

Always, keep in mind, all the grocery stores will be crowded in the weekends. If you have a plan to
shop your groceries on weekend, be sure, you will lose your precious time in the grocery store. It is
always a smarter way to shop on a week day. 

If you plan the grocery shopping this way, you will be highly satisfied knowing your home is well
supplied and you will start facing each day with courage rather than being baffled..You will indeed
save time and money. This will induce a great feeling and  motivate you to do it again.
Get Back to Schedule
Life does not remain the same all the time.. No matter how well you manage your home there
maybe situations in life to throw you out of schedule. Usually these situations are unexpected or
there may be a combination of unexpected and expected things happening at the same time…
Getting back to the routine work on a Monday morning after a busy weekend can be a tough job. 

At times you may fall sick, and your house may go out of control.. And it may be a tough job to get
back to routine work.

It is very common to have such tough times in life..However, during these times there are things
that can be done to make the recovery period quick. So one of the things is to stick on to methods in
which you can quickly jump back to the regular schedule easily..

Although you are unable to do your work, your family would still want to eat, laundry still piles up,
the house still gets cluttered, etc…. So here are some tips to manage the home when something
unexpected happens..

The first area that gets affected is cooking... So having some readymade stuff to eat at home helps
managing such difficult times.. You should always have bread, jam, butter, homemade powders
(that can be taken with rice), sandwiches in your pantry.. These things will be a huge help. Also you
should always learn to make recipe that takes very less time to cook.. 

<-Just click here to learn to make instant recipes in no time. 

The second area is accumulation of clutter..Things get laid here and there, then there is a pile of it.
The more often you do “clutter control” in your house the nicer your house will look and the more
comfortable it will feel. The added benefit is that when you get off track and the clutter builds up, it
won’t be building up on top of an already existing mountain! <-Click here to learn more about
clutter control

The next area that seems to suffer is laundry. Assign laundry baskets/bags to put your washed and
unwashed clothes.. Even though you miss a schedule or a day or two or even three, still you will be
able to identify the dirty clothes easily.. There are high chances of getting overwhelmed and
discouraged when you accumulate piles of unwashed clothes.. So never give a chance.. Always make
it a point not to skip your laundry work..

Dont lose heart and sit back if you had skipped a day or two in doing your work.. Burn your boats
and get back to your regular schedule as soon as you can.

Live Contented
Being a home-maker may seem like a reckless/thankless job at times.   You may have the same
chores to do, the same tasks to accomplish, the same issues to be dealt with everyday .. Don’t get
discontented or depressed on what you are doing..Don’t let the world look down on you by thinking
that you get happiness only when you are employed and not by being a home-maker. Life is not the
same for everyone.. There are so many people in the world who wish to be a home-maker and
craving to spend time with the family, but due to various monetary reasons they are forced to work
and they miss what you are enjoying as a home-maker..Be contented on what you are doing.. 

Maybe you are a short time home-maker or a full term, learn to make best use of your time.. Learn
what you want to, enhance your skills or do things that make you happy.. Listen to your favourite
music.. Motivate yourself so that you don’t get depressed at any point of time.. Have a goal book for
yourself and jot down your goals. This may vary from person to person.. This may include
something like, weight reduction, being a perfectionist, saving grocery bills, saving money, creating
website or anything whatever you wish to.. Set a date by which you want to achieve this goal. For
example, if you want to reduce your weight, write down the date by which you want to achieve this
goal.. Write down your efforts towards your goal (like exercising, walking, gym) and also jot down
how you are working towards it on a daily basis. Stick inspirational photos like whom you want to
look like.. This may inspire you and help you from feeling depressed.

Remember, there is always something soothing about the washing machine humming and knowing
the laundry is being attended to. Or the smell and look of floors that are clean and shiny, aroma of
home cooked meals. Don’t forget that you are adding smiles to the people at home by serving them.
Learn to enjoy what you are doing.. All the jobs you do as a home-maker are valuable. Nothing is
drudgery unless you choose to view it that way..

More often the problems of discontentment revolve around finances. Many of them are discontent
with the older car they drive, the inability to have material things, the desire for new clothes that
are not in the budget, a house that is too small and the list goes on. So if you begin to dwell on these
things what begins to happen is that you become disncontented and feel much bitter..Finally, you
may find a job to make extra money so as to acquire what you don’t have. After you return home
from work, you will still have vessels to wash, laundry to fold and put away clutter that is
accumulating everyday.. The end result will be you won’t have proper balance between your home
and work and get all the more depressed.. It is always common to see and crave for things we don’t
have..

Be happy with what you have rather than brooding about what you don’t have..

Honour your Best Half

You are blessed to be a home-maker because there is this someone who provides for you and your
family.. 

Of course, it is your part to make your best-half feel grateful and thankful to you for the way you
take care of the family..Make him understand that your presence in the home is as important as his
labour.

Remember, the one who supports you financially to lead your home is the pillar of the home.. If
there is no supporting pillar, the home will be nowhere.. So as a smart home-maker, it is your
responsibility to honour your partner..

Here are some practical ways to honour your partner:

Respect your partner. Let him know that his role in the family is respected and valued by you.. 

Don’t give up him/her at any cost.. Be it to your parents, friends or neighbours.. 

Stop badmouthing about your partner and his family. There are people who find happiness in
badmouthing about their partner or pinpointing their bad habits to their parents or close pals..
Learn to share only good things about your partner..

All human beings have their own short comings.. Build your partner rather than blaming on his/her
shortcomings.. Pray for those areas for him to change and leave it to god..

Trust your partner. When you are out in public with your partner, only say things that build him up
and affirm him, not critical things. 

Be a place where your partner can come to share the things that weigh on his heart.  

Be the first to appreciate your partner even for a smallest achievement.

Stop nagging/bossing your partner..Make him feel the home is a peaceful, comfortable place for him
to stay.. 

Encourage your partner with sweet words and show a loving attitude.. 

Stop finding fault.. 

Do your daily work without slogging and make life flow smoothly for him. 

Get to know your partner's favourite recipes, restaurants, clothing etc. Surprise him with his
favourite recipe once in a week..

Be at home while your partner returns from work, instead of being out doing other things..

Look neat and pleasant while your partner returns home.. Don’t be wearing those dirty clothes and
look untidy with uncombed hair.
Keep the house pleasant, fragrant and neat while he returns home. Be ready to sit and listen to him
and make sure to ask how his day was rather than immuring yourself in tv or kitchen or cleaning
the home..
Always try to have a snack ready at home, when he comes back home after work.. Although, you are
not able to greet him with a smile, make sure you dont yell at him as soon as he enters home.. Even
petty things like packing food on time, cooking delicious food, ironing his clothes, keeping home
clean adds great difference in life.. 
Last but not least, treat your partner's family as yours.. Dont say a word bad about his/her family
eventhough they are not good to you..Before you tend to say something bad, put yourself in his/her
shoes and see how you would feel.. A loving word to your partner's folks and siblings will make a
huge difference in your life..

Tips Tips Tips

Here are some useful tips you should know.. Given below are Cooking Tips, House-hold Tips,
Health Tips and Beauty Tips..
Cooking Tips
 Most often coriander leaves decays soon. To prevent this, You can just simply wrap it in a
cotton cloth and leave it in a refrigerator. If this doesn’t work for you, you can stick to the
following process.
 Discard the roots of the coriander bunch.
 Seperate the leaves from the stem & discard yellow coloured, black coloured, dotted &
decayed leaves.
 Spread the fine leaves in a large plate, allow to dry for half an hour & make sure that there is
no water left out in the fine leaves or else they will get decayed sooner.
 Spread a dry cotton cloth or even a handkerchief  & place the coriander leaves on it.
 Fold all the four corners of the hand kerchief.
 Wrap them up & store them in an air tight container.
 Transfer the container into a refrigerator, wash & use (for garnishing) during cooking.
 This method of storage retains the flavor & aroma of the leaves for about a week or two.
 Excess salt in any dish can be brought down by adding a table spoon of sugar or by adding
diced potatoes or lemon juice or tomatoes. 
 Excess sugar in any dish can be removed by adding salt or a teaspoon of vinegar.
 A simple way to use sprouts like kabuli channa or rajma, green peas. Soak the sprouts for
one night and the next day drain the water and place it in air tight polythene bags and leave
it in refrigerator. This stays for long in the refrigerator. This way you can use these sprouts
whenever you want. If you don’t have time to cut the vegetables, you can just take these
sprouts from the refrigerator, boil it and make a curry.. This way you save a lot of time.
 If you find ant or insect in rice or sugar bag, just add a teaspoon of pepper to it. The ant will
vanish..
 At any point of time, the first dosa you make may stick to the tawa and wont come out well.
To avoid this, rub an onion on the tawa and start making dosa.. The dosa won’t stick to the
tawa and it will come out easily.
 To avoid the raw smell of cabbage either add lemon or add a piece of ginger while boiling it..
This way the cabbage wont smell bad.
 To avoid the awful odour of onion, add some lemon juice to it while cooking.
Whenever you boil vegetables, the nutrition in the vegetables will be in the water in which
the vegetable was boiled.. You can use this water to make rice so that you will have healthy
rice and the rice will taste good.
 To make soft rotis: To 3 cups of wheat flour add one cup of grinded split peas ("pottu
kadalai" in tamil) and mix well to make a dough.. You will get delicious very soft chapathi..
As an alternative, you can also use gingelly oil and hot water to make the chapathi dough..
This way also, you will be able to make soft chapathis.
If the bread becomes dry even after being refrigerated, dont throw it away.. Here is an idea..
Roll it in a wet towel (not too wet) and keep it in the refrigerator for a day.. The bread will
become as fresh as while you purchased.
Instant coconut chutney/thuvayal - 1/2 cup shredded coconut +Idly chilly powder +salt..
Grind it together with little water to make an instant thuvayal.
To remove mud stains from potato - Soak the potato in hot water for few minutes and rinse
it.. Even the smallest dust will be removed..
When you are making vadas, if the batter is watery - you will have the problem of oil
splattering when you fry it. Add a tablespoon of ghee to the batter and your problem will be
solved.
To thicken any gravy or soup add corn flour to it. It is an excellent thickening agent. As an
alternative, you can also add rice flour. Remember to mix it in good water before adding to
avoid lumps. 
To avoid sticky rice while making pulav or briyani, soak washed rice in water for at least ten
minutes before cooking. A teaspoon of oil can be added to get separate grains of cooked
rice. 
If you want to have soft idlis, do not beat the batter before pouring idlis. The air bubble sin
the batter helps you to get soft idlis. Beating the batter removes these air bubbles. 
Chill onion in refrigerator before cutting to  avoid tears. One other way to avoid tears is to
soak peeled onion is water before cutting. 
To get crisp, golden dosas add a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds to the urad dal and grind it. 
Add a pinch of sugar while cooking any green leaf vegetables. This will help maintain the
bright green color. 
For maintaining the bright color of any vegetable don't forget to put it in ice cold water as
soon as you blanch/chop them. 
To keep apples from turning brown, add little citrus juice like the juice of a lemon or orange
and toss apples in it. 
A pinch of turmeric powder added to all kinds of dal when cooking hastens the cooking
process. 
Remove the stems from chilies before storing them. This will keep them fresher for a long
time. 
It is better to use round dishes in the microwave oven rather than square or rectangular
dishes as round dishes spread heat faster. 
Oil applied to dal before it is cooked helps it to cook faster by softening the proteins and
avoid the dal sticking on to the lid cover. 
Health Tips 
If you are from a family where diabetics runs in the hereditary, try having few curry leaves
every morning for 100 days. This is believed to prevent diabetics. 
As an alternative, you can also soak the fenugreek in water overnight and have it the first
thing in the morning.. 
To control high levels of sugar, you can drink bitterguard juice (grind bitter guard by adding
water). This will reduce your sugar levels to great extent.
Taking raw curry leaves daily helps prevent premature graying of hair. 
If you are having high blood pressure or excessive cholesterol - take raw garlic in empty
stomach everyday. This significantly reduces blood pressure and cholesterol. 
If you are suffering from indigestion - Add 3-4 crushed cloves of garlic to boiling milk and
drink it. It gives immediate relief. As an alternative, mix coriander juice with buttermilk and
drink it to treat indigestion.
If you have difficulty in sleeping - Take the juice of a few coriander leaves by grinding them.
Mix it in hot water and have it before going to bed. You will have a restful sleep. 
If you are anaemic - add fenugreek leaves (methi leaves) to your food more often. It really
helps. 
For cold relief - take the juice of ginger, mix it with honey and lime juice and drink it. 
For asthma relief - take 3-4 cloves of garlic. boil it in milk and drink it every night. 
Banana helps wash fatty wastes from kidneys, is soothing to the digestive tract and helps
relieve constipation and diarrhea
Oatmeal helps reduce cholesterol. Regularly eating oatmeal for breakfast results in
significant reduction of cholesterol in a few days. 
 House-hold Tips 
Store coffee powder in the freezer to retain the freshness for a long period of time. 
To remove pickle stain from clothes: Put some wet cotton on the stain and allow it absorb..
Then, apply a tooth paste on the stain and rub it for sometime.. Again place a wet cotton on
the stained area and remove the paste.. Even you will not able to find the stain..
To remove paint stains, mix vinegar in hot water and apply this to the stained area.. The
stain will disappear.
If you want to remove the sticker/label from the vessel, show the backside of the sticker
(backside of the vessel) in the heat, the sticker / label will peel off automatically
To remove greasy/oily stains from any metal, wooden or plastic surfaces, apply a dap of
Vaseline over it and work the stain with your finger for a while. Then wipe it off. the stain
will come off easily. Same can be done to remove grease from your hands. 
To easy clean greasy pans, soak the pans in hot water and then scrub it with a lemon peel
and then wash it as usual. 
To shine silver utensils/jewellery, wash them using toothpaste. 
While cleaning your storage containers add a pinch of baking soda. This will help to remove
all odors and cut grease. 
Every weak disinfect your kitchen cutting boards and knives in hot water added with bleach
and vinegar. Bleach disinfects and vinegar removes odors.  
Beauty Tips 
To remove sun tan from face and body - Grind kabuli channa softly to make a powder. Mix
this powder with little amount of milk to make a paste.. Apply this paste on the tanned area
of the skin, allow it to dry and wash it with water.. On doing so, the darkness due to sun
exposure will vanish..As an alternative, you can also apply lemon juice to remove sun tan..
If you are out in a hot sun and back home, your face may appear dark.. Soon after you reach
home, you can mix gram flour (kadalai mavu in tamil) with curd to make a paste and apply
it on face.Allow it to dry and wash it cold water. The darkness caused due to sun light will go
away..
If you want the nail polish to stay longer on your nails: Apply a first level quoting of nail
polish and allow it to dry.. After it dries, apply the second level quoting.. This way the nail
polish will last long in your nails..
To have healthy shiny hair, treat your scalp with a mixture of almond oil and olive oil, leave
for 10-15 minutes and wash your hair. This also reduces hair loss. You can also wrap a hot
towel over your head for the oil to seep in easily and also to open all your pores. 
Mix honey with  finely ground almond paste. Add little lime juice. Rub gently on your face
and neck. Rinse off with warm water. This acts as an excellent cleansing scrub. 
To get firmer skin, take a egg white, add little sugar to it. Wisk it and apply on face and neck.
Leave for 10-15 minutes. Wash off with Luke warm water. This prevents fine wrinkles and
gives a firmer skin. As an alternative, you can mix gram flour (kadala mavu in tamil) with
milk to make a paste. Apply this paste on face and allow it to dry. Rinse off with cold water
to get rid of wrinkles in your face.
Place slices of cucumber over your eyes to remove black circles around the eyes. This also
cools  your eyes and relaxes you. 
Placing a slice of potato over your eyes helps reduce black circles. 
For healthy looking skin apply olive oil or almond oil to your face every day. Leave it for ten
minutes and wash thoroughly. 
Drink plenty of water. This will automatically solve most of your hair and skin problems. 
 Home Made Cleansers
Here are some methods to prepare home-made face cleansers.
 Cleansers for Oily Skin
There are a number of natural ingredients that can truly substitute expensive commercial products
and used effectively as natural cleansers for oily skin. These help to remove any dust or other
impurities and wipe away excessive oil or sebum. The most popular ones are:
 Lemon Juice
Soak a peice of cotton in lemon juice and rub it gently over your face in circular motions. This helps
in removing dust 
and oil. 
Vinegar 
Any type of vinegar from apple cider to white synthetiv vinegar can be used as a natural facial
cleanser. Rub it against your face avoiding the eye area. Rinse with warm water and gently pat the
skin dry. 
Dairy Products
Both of the main dairy products, milk and yogurt can be used as facial cleansers for oily
skin. Massage yogurt gently over the entire face and wipe away with a towel. Then, remove any
residue with a toner or distilled water. 
Mix milk and lemon juice. Rub it on your face and rinse with cold water.

Facial Masks
1. Facial Mask using Honey
Honey is extremely helps in skin nourishment. It helps in rejuvenating the skin and eliminates
wrinkles. It is a good moisturizer which makes it superior for dry skin. Honey also negates the
damaging consequences of sunlight exposure, giving your skin a soothing effect. 
Honey and Turmeric Mask
Turmeric has been well recognized as an anti-inflammatory agent for hundreds of years; when
mixed with honey it helps to remove impurities, refreshing the skin making it smoother and supple.
Ingredients:
1. 2 tablespoon honey
2. A pinch of turmeric powder
3. ½ tablespoon lemon juice
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and apply it on the face and neck after cleansing the face and neck
with water. Leave it for ten minutes then rinse with cold water and pat dry. This mask may cause
some itching so better test it behind the ear before applying it on the face. 
Egg and honey Face Mask
1. 1 tablespoon honey,
2. 1 egg yolk,
3. 1/2 teaspoon almond oil 
4. 1 tablespoon yogurt. 
Mix the above components well and apply on face and neck. Allow it to dry and rinse
with water. This is a very good homemade facial mask for dry skin. Almond oil helps to restore
moisture and negate the effect of dryness. Instead of almond oil, olive oil or good quality baby oil
can be used. 
Honey and Lemon Face mask
1. 2 tablespoon honey
2. ½ tablespoon lemon juice
Mix the above components well and apply on your face evenly. Leave it on your face for 15-20
minutes. Rinse off with cold water. The nourishing effect of honey with natural facial cleanser in
lemon helps to revitalize your skin with a fresh and glowing complexion. 
Lemon and Cabbage Face Mask
This mask is especially good for dry skin. Boil some cabbage and mash it well. Now add some honey
and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. Mix them well and apply on face and neck. Wash with cold water
when it dries. This is an easy and effective home remedy for dry skin. 
Oatmeal and Honey Cleanser
You can use a mixture of oatmeal with honey and rub against your facial skin and neck in circular
motion, avoiding eye areas. Wait for some time and rinse with cold water. This is an effective
natural facial cleanser for dry skin. 
Oatmeal and Honey Mask
Another perfect homemade facial mask for dry skin.
1. 2 teaspoons of ground oats
2. 1 teaspoon honey
3. Few drops of lemon juice 
4. 1 egg white
Mix them well and apply it on face and neck with special care to eyes. Allow it to dry then rinse with
cold water or wipe away with wash cloth. (A cold water rinse is a better option.) This facial can be
used to lighten the skin. 
Honey Mask for Oily Skin
A perfect mask for oily skin is to blend some mashed avocado and add honey to make a good
paste. Apply it on your face and neck and wait for fifteen minutes. Then, rinse with cold water. 
2. Facial using Strawberry 
This fruit is meant for oily skin. It is a good skin cleanser and astringent that helps to eliminate
excessive oils, clears any pigmentation and improves skin tone making it look younger and
smoother. This also helps in curing acne and blemishes and reduces under-eye puffiness. A regular
use of strawberries gives a soft and supple skin and a healthy glowing complexion. 
Honey and Strawberry Facial Mask
This is a wonderful skin care treatment where honey is extremely nourishing for the skin and
effective for all skin types. A good combination of honey and strawberries help to refresh and
smooth the skin, giving it a beautiful glow. 
1. 2 Ripe strawberries
2. 1 tablespoon honey
3. ½ tablespoon Rose water 
4. ½ tablespoon milk powder
Blend strawberries in a blender. Now add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Apply it on
the face and neck. Wait for 15 minutes and then rinse off with water.
Strawberry and Yogurt Facial Mask
To make a face mask blend three strawberries with some yogurt in a blender to get a smooth
consistency. Apply all over the face and neck. Leave it for fifteen minutes. Now rinse with cold
water to get a smooth and beautiful skin. 
Easy to make Facial Mask
If you are in a hurry and worry, just the easiest way to boost up complexion and make your skin soft
and supple is to cut a strawberry into two halves and rub it on your face. Let it stay there for five
minutes then wash it away. This is the quickest and easiest facial skin treatment.    

To Reduce Eye Puffiness

These are well known to reduce puffiness of eyes It is too simple to use them. Just cut a fresh
strawberry fruit into slices and cover the eyes for ten minutes. 
Strawberry Facial Scrubs
Strawberries have very fine seeds embedded in its outer surface.
Strawberry and Oatmeal Scrub
Take fresh lump of one strawberry and mix with some oatmeal. Rub it on your face and neck gently
and let it stand for some time. Rinse well and pat dry. This is an effective skin care treatment. 
Strawberry and Almond Scrub 
1 tablespoon almond powder
1 Fresh strawberry
½ tablespoon lemon juice
½ tablespoon almond oil
Blend the ingredients in a bowl and rub gently all over the face and neck. Rinse with cold water
after fifteen minutes. This facial skin treatment helps to cleanse the skin thoroughly, removing dead
skin cells without damaging or drying it. 
3. Facial Mask using Egg
Eggs are highly nutritious, rich in proteins and many vitamins and minerals. Both egg white and
yolk are important ingredients in many homemade facial masks.
 Egg White 
This is an excellent facial mask that is really easy to make and helps  to refresh and smoothen the
skin. Just separate the white and yolk of an egg, whisk the white well until it bubbles up. Apply it on
your face and neck and wait until it dries. 
Egg and Avocado Face Mask
1. 1 tablespoon fuller's earth,
2. 1 egg yolk, 
3. 1/4 of a mashed avocado 
Make a paste of all ingredients by mixing them well and apply on the face. Leave it on face until it
dries. It is best for oily skin. Fuller's earth dries excess sebum while egg yolk nourishes skin and
avocado helps to restore moisture. The clay masks are usually used for oily skin and are not
recommended for dry or sensitive skin. 
Egg and Honey 
1. 1 egg
2. 1 teaspoon of honey
3. 1/2 tsp olive oil
4. A few drops of rose water
Mix the above components thoroughly and apply it on face and wait for fifteen minutes. Then rinse
off with cold water to get a soft supple skin. 
Egg and Oatmeal 
1. 2 tablespoon ground oats,
2. 1 egg yolk,
3. 1/2 teaspoon almond oil 
4. ½ teaspoon lemon juice. 
Beat the egg in a blender. Add oats and lemon juice and finally almond oil. Mix them well and apply
it on face and neck. This is a very good homemade mask for oily skin. 
Egg and Honey 
Apply egg white and honey mixture for 10 minutes. It removes the tan from your face, helps to
enhance complexion and tone up the skin. 
Egg and Yogurt 
1. 1 Egg yolk
2. 2 tablespoon yogurt
3. 1 tablespoon honey
Mix all the above components in a bowl and apply it on the face and neck. Allow it to dry. This may
take 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with luke warm water and then rinse with cold water.  
This homemade face mask is equally effective for all skin types. Yogurt is a very good natural skin
cleanser while honey smoothes the skin and gives a beautiful glowing complexion. 
Home / House Tips
Purchase refrigerated eggs only and don’t bring them out until they are used for cooking.
Avoid using any aluminum pan, pot or utensil while cooking tomatoes as tomatoes contain acid
which react adversely with aluminum. Cooked tomatoes become bitter and discolored when kept
in aluminum containers. The food that you have prepared with tomato will also soak up the
aluminum to some extent and the acid contained in the tomatoes will mark and fade the color of
the aluminum utensil.
Carrot has to washed and skin has to be peeled before eating or cooking(when i was a kid i use to
eat carrot after washing it).
Curd or buttermilk should not be taken in the bedtime. It may cause blood related problems in
the long run. Curd should be taken with sugar will be better option during bed time.
Dosa batter can kept in plastic boxes(keep in fridge )in order to make d batter for long time
without souring.
Dishes made with potato should not be reheated in d same vessel.
Onion and potato should not b kept in d same basket which would cause potato spoil soon.
Cut Onion should be used ASAP,otherwise it'l attract bacterias.If cut onion is kept in fridge then
also it attracts bacterias to other items present inside the fridge.
Ants: Putting 3-4 cloves in the sugar container will keep the ants at bay.
Egg: To boil a cracked egg, add some vinegar to the water and place the egg in it. The egg shell
will remain inside.
Yogurt: If the yogurt has become sour, put it in a muslin cloth and drain all the water. Then add
milk to make it as good as fresh in taste.
Mushroom: Store mushrooms in paper bags rather plastic bags or trays. This stops them from
becoming ‘slimy’ and prolongs their life.
Mixer/Grinder: Grind some common salt in your mixer/grinder fro some time every month.
This will keep your mixer blades sharp.
Sink (Blocked): To clear the blocked drain pipe of your kitchen sink, mix 1/2 cup sodium
bicarbonate in 1 cup vinegar and pour it into the sink, and pour about 1 cup water. In an hour the
drain pipe will open.
Refrigerator: To prevent formation of ice, rub table salt to the insides of your freeze.
Onions: To avoid crying, cut the onions into two parts and place them in water for 15 minutes
before chopping them or keep the onions in a plastic bag and keep it in the fridge. Take out just
before cutting.
Green Peas: Lemon/Lime: If the lemon or lime is hard, put it in warm water for 5-10 minutes to
make it easier to squeeze.
Idlies: Place a betel (vethalai) leaf over the leftover idli and dosa batter to prevent them sour.
Okra(vendaikaai): While cooking okra (ladyfingers) add a few drops of lemon juice or a
spoonful of yogurt to avoid becoming sticky.
Lemon: To keep lemon fresh put them in water and store in refrigerator.
Spinach: Add a pinch of sugar while cooking spinach and green leafy vegetables, it will retain its
green colour.
Green Peas: To preserve green peas, keep them in a polythene bag or in a freezer box in the
freezer.
Green Chilies: To keep the chilies fresh for a longer time, remove the stems before storing.
Garlic: Garlic skin comes off easily if the garlic cloves are slightly warmed before peeling.
Coriander/Mint: To keep them fresh for a longer time, wrap them in a muslin cloth and keep in
a fridge.
Almonds: To remove the skin of almonds easily, soak them in hot water for 15-20 minutes.
Potato: Never store potatoes near onions! Potatoes rot quickly if stored near onions.
While washing silk sarees add a little lemon juice. The colour won't fade and it will give a glossy
finish.
To remove the marks in furniture's, scratch with the paste made from ash of cigar and vinegar.
Cleaning the furniture with shoe polish will lend an excellent sheen to it
The furniture becomes more bright and shiny if it is cleaned with the cloth dipped in strong tea.
Apply some wax or soap on the sides of the drawer for easy movement.
The furniture becomes more shiny if it is cleaned with mixture of olive oil and vinegar.
The gold will become more brighter if it is cleaned in pumpkin juice.
To remove the stain of wine from cloth clean that portion with the cloth dipped in soda.
To remove the stain of henna from the cloth, dip the cloth in warm milk for half an hour and
wash with soap.
To remove ink stain from clothes, rub the area with a cotton bud soaked in eau-de-cologne.
While mopping the floor add two teaspoons of salt to the water to keep flies at bay.
To remove stains from utensils, add bleaching powder in a tub of water and dip the utensils
before washing with detergent.
Used mosquito mats is an excellent blotting agent.
To keep a vaccum flask clean and odour free, fill up half the flask with vinegar, hot water and
pieces of egg shell.
If two stamps stick together, keep it in a freezer for some time and peal them out.
Vinegar is an excellent cleanser for glassware.
To prevent silver fish from attacking your clothes, keep a few 'kalonji' seeds tied in a muslin cloth
in your cupboard.
Soak your silver articles in tamarind water for 30 minutes and wash off with fresh water, if you
want them to shine like new.
To remove mud and mud-strains from clothes, rub the affected area with potato stock and wash
it with water.
To remove the tea stains from the vessels, take some water and add 2 teaspoon sodium
bicarbonate and boil it. After some time, wash the vessel with detergent. To remove lipstick stain,
apply Vaseline on that portion and wash it with soap after some time.
To sharpen a sewing machine needle, stitch through a piece of sand paper.
Keep the water in your flower vase odourless for along time put a piece of charcoal in it.
Rub toothpaste over the fine scratches on glassware. It acts as a slight abrasive and smoothens
out the area.
Soften hardened shoe polish with a few drops of white spirit.
Instead of scratching off candle wax from an object, hold the object close to a flame or some
source of heat for a few seconds till the wax melts away.
Clean dust particles and dirt from your steel or iron sieve by holding it over the fire for some
time. After the grime burns to soot and falls off, wash with soap and water. Your sieve will look
better and shine like a new.
To soften a tight leather shoe, apply some curd on their inner surfaces at night.
'Agarbatti.' ash can be used to clean silver and brass articles.
In order to keep away the termites and insects from your bookshelves, keep few pieces of
sandalwood.
Hardened glue becomes soft and useable again if you add some glycerin and warm water to it .
To remove the stains from white foot wear, soak a small cotton wool in nail polish remover and
rub briskly on your footwear.
Use a few drops of after shave lotion to get rid of a stubborn dirt from shoes.
Clean the silverware with dry ash or common salt for shiny appearance.
To clean your diamond ornaments, soak it in water for 15 minutes, add some washing powder
and boil for 7 to 8 minutes and wash it in running water.
Put some bits of lemon peels in the pressure cooker while cooking, the cooker will remain white
inside.
To remove the chewing-gum stuck to the floor, clean it with a little kerosene.
Nail polish remover is excellent for removing stains from bone china.
Diamonds will regain their luster if you rub a piece of chalk over them and wipe clean with a soft
dry cloth.
Add a little water to used tea leaves and used them to clean glass and window panes for
sparkling results.
To remove stains from vessels, rub it with a wet cloth dipped in baking soda.
To remove stains from brassware dip it in tamarind water for some time and wash it and then
polish it using brasso.
To remove tea or coffee stains from steel cups clean it with salt water.
To clean non stick pans easily, pour some warm water into it and keep it for some time and then
wash it with any detergent.
To remove the smell of masala form mixi, put few pieces of dry bread and powder it.
To get rid of cockroaches in your kitchen, put some boric acid powder in the corners.
If u r having trouble with a vessel containing burnt food then add some chopped onions and pour
some boiling water over it. keep it for five minutes and then wash away.
If u have dropped an egg, the easiest way to clean the mess is by covering it with salt and then let
it stay there for some time. then simply wipe clean the mess with a paper.
For COUGH- Mix 1 tsp of honey and garlic juice with a few drops of brandy and have it 3-4 times
a day.
For BACKACHE- Rub some ginger paste on the affected area and let it dry. Apply eucalyptus oil
on the affected area. Take paste of 10 tulsi leaves with honey and then drink 1 glass of water.
Dark patches under eyes- Make a paste from 2 sps of tomato juice, 1/2 tsp lemon juice, a sp of
sandalwood powder and a 1/2 sp of turmeric powder. Apply on spots for 2 hrs. Drink tomato
juice with a few mint leaves, little lemon juice and salt.
ACIDITY- Suck a small piece of jaggery(gur) every hour till acidity subsides. Jaggery eliminates
acidity, improves digestion and helps in expulsion of worms in small children.
DANDRUFF- Pour 3-4sps of vinegar into the hair and massage into the scalp. Let to dry for 15-20
min. Wash out the hair. Repeat for few days until the dandruff disappears.
COMMON COLD- Make a cup of tea using ginger, clove, bay leaves or guava leaves,black pepper,
sweeten with honey or (pana kalkand) and have it 2-3 times a day. good relief.
LOW BP- Take 5 pieces of almond soaked overnight, grind and take with a glass of milk.
If lemon has become hard then try putting them in warm water for 5-10 min and then squeeze
them.
To get rid of MOSQUITOES without much effort simply pick a few tables of camphor and put
them in water . keep it in any place where there are mosquitoes. they will vanish in no time.
Do not throw away used lemons. Instead put them in the pressure cooker when cooking. This
will help in preventing the inside of the cooker from turning black.
Acid or Harpic will remove the salt water stains or recidues from the bathroom wall tiles.